A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I haven't seen a peacock in forever. How are your gardens doing for butterflies? There's some interesting stuff in the Guardian today on their decline. Not butterflies AND bees disappearing! Nooooo! http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/27/butterfly-decline-conservation-endangered-species and pretty pictures: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/apr/24/butterfly-spotting?picture=346442489 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 i'll keep an eye out, usually lots of cabbage whites on our budlea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 we had a peacock yesterday & lots of cabbage whites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I had so many cabbage whites last week that I took fright for my cabbages & covered them in enviromesh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I have seen several Brimstone butterflies in the garden, haven't seen a Red Admiral for ages though. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenimac Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Only cabbage whites in this neck of the woods but lots of them. Will keep a lookout for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 This weekend we didn't have many cabbage whites, but we did see a couple of commas and lots of chocolate brown butterflies with small yellow spots. Last year the cabbage white caterpillars destroyed our kale, brocolli, cabbages and even stripped the leaves from the horseraddish ! We won't be having many butterflies back from all that caterpillar activity though because we saw plenty of evidence that the parasitic wasps had killed a large quantity before they could pupate. Luckily the coloured butterflies seem to favour the stinging nettles so our brassicas might fare better this year. Regards, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 two peacock, one admiral and several bumble bees seen this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I've seen quite a few butterflies - no idea what they were as I'm usually found running in the opposite direction. I have a phobia about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 We have a butterfly pavillion from http://www.insectlore-europe.com/ and each year we buy new caterpillars to hatch out Painted Lady butterflies. It's absolutely fascinating to see how quickly the caterpillars grow and see all their food get gobbled up We release the butterflies onto our buddleias. Does anyone know where we could buy different breeds of caterpillars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 Have you ever been to the Amateur Entomological Society's annual show at Kempton Park in the autumn? It's chockful of insect dealers. There are always a good load of lepidopterists. The next one is 17 October. http://www.amentsoc.org/events/annual-exhibition.html It's an amazing day out. Even for non-insect nuts. It's like a day at the zoo, only tiny, and you can take the animals home (but they're insects) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 There is a lovely Butterfly House near Sheffield, **here**. We used to visit it often when the children were little. Might make a good venue for an Omlet meet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
